Top Sounds - K
KANGRENA - Casetes {B-Core} Another slice of vintage Spanish Punk from the B-Core folks. KANGRENA was a band from Barcelona that formed in 1981 and lasted five years. This compiles the band’s two most significant releases; the 1984 ‘Estoc De Pus’ and the following year’s ‘El Cubo De La Basura’ cassettes. ‘Estoc...’ kicks things off with 22 tracks that vary in sound quality but all show a leaning toward USHC played via GBH. The opening seven tracks form a frighteningly effective sonic attack that brought to mind early MDC and even an early ARTICLES OF FAITH intensity. Not sure if the rest of the cassette is from a different studio but, while impressive, lacks the sonic onslaught of the opening tracks. Instead they mix the UK82 vibe with something more akin to early CRASS. ‘El Cubo...’ continues in a similar vein with another 27 tracks. Lyrics are all in Spanish, as is the excellent cut ‘n’ paste style booklet. Both cassettes have been remastered from the original recordings, which makes fiery tracks like ‘Ruski Puski’, ‘Ignorante’, ‘Ataque!’ and ‘La Cabra’ cut in a way the originals probably failed to do. Definitely one for Eurocore historians but also one that left scorch marks on the wall behind the House Of Scanner stereo speakers! (02.06.09)
KRUM BUMS - Same Old Story {TKO} Six track EP that’s the follow-up to the excellent ‘As The Tide Turns’ album and, from the subtle acoustic guitar intro, it’s apparent that the band’s sound has ventured into new territories. While ‘No Apologies’ and closer ‘Coliseum’ retain the anthemic Punk blitz of the debut, songs such as disc highlight ‘Dead New World’, pivot around a Metal-influenced riff and proficient guitar solos abound throughout. The addition of the lead guitar work has really given the band depth and a certain menace - and thankfully it does not reach the stages of dull, Metal wankery! The vocals of Dave Tejas have developed a caustic almost wretched bite lending the album the accessibility and anger of ANTI-FLAG but played with the Crust-heavy barrage of WORLD BURNS TO DEATH! Tejas’ lyrics (and to a degree the graphics of the EP) retain the Anarcho vibe of the debut. Odd as all these disparate polemics may appear, it’s actually a convincing, bombastic blast of politically charged, defiant and corrosive Punk Rock. (07.12.09)
Hit HERE for material reviewed prior to 2009 including:
JOHN KASTNER, K DAVIS, KILL TOBY WYATT, KING BLUES, KNEEDEEP, KRUM BUMS